Lost the Plot? Have we somehow lost the message of the New Testament through irreparable corruptions of the text? That’s what some people wonder when the conversation turns to the issue of textual variants—differences in the biblical manuscripts we’ve discovered over the years. Maybe you’ve got a friend or a co-worker who tends to be pretty skeptical of the Bible right from the get-go. For …

1. Entropy-like effects dictate you must adopt goals like get enough food, prefer safety, prefer to cooperate, or else you live a very ineffective life, probably die early. Morality is subjective, but not random.
2. We have aware-will, we learn, we reason, we choose.

Dr. Andrews’ credentials as a scientist and theologian are many—he is one of those individuals who has more letters after his name than there are in the alphabet (ok, yes, that’s a bit of hyperbole there), but he is also a truly humble man. At 85 years old he remains as sharp and well-spoken today as he was back when I first knew him— back when he was, well… 80. He’s even publicly debated Richard Dawkins!

“For example, assuming the unexplained is unexplainable. I’m sure some sharp critic could say to me, ‘What about this issue?’ and even though I’ve done a forty-year study of these things, I wouldn’t be able to answer him. What does that prove — that the Bible has an error or Geisler is ignorant? I’d give the benefit of the doubt to the Bible, because of the eight hundred allegations I’ve studied, I haven’t found one single error in the Bible, but I’ve found a lot of errors by the critics.”

In this re-purposed audio podcast, J. Warner Wallace is interviewed by Brenton Miles and Bryant Urich on the REVERSE Podcast, (visit them on Twitter @reversepodcast ) and talks about the role of creativity in apologetics. Be sure to subscribe to the REVERSE Podcast (Thinking Backward / Moving Forward) for more great interviews: http://www.reversepodcast.com/ .

"In the world of the Old Testament, people built walls around cities to protect themselves from thieves, murderers, and other criminals, and from foreign invaders who would seek to destroy the city. People could still enter the city, but they had to do so by the gate, so that city officials would have some control over who was coming in and going out. Today's debate is about a larger area – a national border, not a city – but the principles are the same," Grudem explained.

The day may come when these minor irritations regarding Twitter and Facebook seem like a utopia. They are a law unto themselves, it seems. But then Federal and State anti-discrimination in the US and in Australia where I live is often far worse. We also have a “Human Rights Commission” that is blatantly Leftist, promoting homosexuality as “human right”, and attempting to silence effective criticism of the behaviour of its favoured racial and religions groups (non-white people and Muslims, typically, being the ones favoured). If the “anti-discrimination” philosophy really takes hold on Twitter and Facebook – so that you are no longer allowed to say anything that people of a certain race or religion might find “offensive” – then your freedom to use those platforms will be much more severely curtailed.

I've read quite a few books in Christian apologetics but no where have I found a book such as this. Hugh is if you didn't know on the Autism spectrum and his talent is that he can fit enormous complex concepts together and make sense out of them (a paraphrase of his words). It definitely shows in this book. It is a fully consistent scientific and biblical look at the reason for all of creation and how it in his view fits together. When I've seen Hugh challenged at atheist confereces, I've personally never seen anyone challenge his science, (unlike a Ken Ham) they just challenge his theistic implications. This book is fascinating, even if you happen to disagree with him I promise you will learn something you didn't know. I've already bought an extra copy for some of my family and will probably be getting a few more for friends.

Biblical archaeology is a wide field offering modern readers fascinating insights into the everyday lives of people mentioned in the Bible. While archaeological findings don’t prove the truth of Scripture, they do have the potential to enrich our understanding and draw us into the world of the biblical writers—giving us a glimpse of the ancient world behind the living Word.

Murray frames the moral dilemma facing the west through a quote from the prophetic 1973 book The Camp of the Saints . Author Jean Raspail saw ‘A million poor wretches, armed only with their weakness and their numbers, overwhelmed by misery, encumbered with starving brown and black children, ready to disembark on our soil, the vanguard of the multitudes pressing hard against every part of the tired and overfed West. I literally saw them, saw the major problem they presented, a problem absolutely insoluble by our present moral standards. To let them in would destroy us. To reject them would destroy them.’ An established journalist, Murray had the resources to travel throughout Europe to view the immigration problem firsthand. He spoke to immigrants on the island of Lesbos, the slums of Malmö, the streets of Paris. He thoroughly appreciates their motives in coming to Europe and in the early chapters appears convinced that the majority of them have no motive other than to improve their lives. Later chapters, the bulk of the book, go into extensive detail about the Islamic immigrants.

Due to His influence, Jesus of Nazareth has been transforming lives for almost two millennia. In the process, He has rewritten the direction and outcome of human history. It’s a fact that the teachings of Jesus have been a force of overwhelming good throughout the history of the world. Unfortunately, it also is true that much harm has been committed in Jesus’ name — both by the church at large, and by individuals seeking to use Him to further their own agendas.

This volume contains the inspiring stories of 12 faithful men who endured great suffering for the cause of Christ. Biographical sketches cover well-known figures such as John Calvin and John Newton as well as lesser-knowns such as Janani Luwum, Wang Mingdao, and John Chavis, all of whom suffered deeply but endured faithfully. We hope pastors and ministry leaders, as well as those who support them, will find in this collection encouragement to run the race with endurance.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission . The court vindicated my friend Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop , and condemned the Colorado Civil Rights Commission for its “clear and impermissible hostility” toward Jack’s beliefs.
This week, I have renewed hope that I will be vindicated too.
I’m grateful that the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Washington Supreme Court’s decision against me so that my case can continue. If the state of Washington and the ACLU have their way, I could lose not just the flower shop that is so close to my heart, but also my home and every penny I own.
I risk losing everything because my state’s attorney general targeted me and my religious beliefs. More than five years ago, I chose not to participate in the same-sex wedding of a longtime friend and customer named Rob because of my religious beliefs about marriage. Without receiving a complaint from Rob, the state filed a lawsuit against me, as did the ACLU.
I and the Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys who represent me (and Jack) are encouraged that the Supreme Court, in the Masterpiece case, ruled that the government cannot be hostile to the sincere religious beliefs of people of faith.

Like the death scene I investigated, the layers of foundational, regional, and locational evidence in the universe show signs of “tampering.” The forces governing atomic structure, the matter of the universe and the creation of chemicals are conveniently aligned to allow life’s existence. Even tiny changes in these forces have disastrous consequences for life. Similarly narrow ranges exist related to our galaxy and planet. While the appearance of fine-tuning in any one of these cosmic parameters might not be all that compelling, the cumulative nature of these conditions obligates us to seek an explanation.

There’s a story that a British newspaper sent out an inquiry to famous authors, asking the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” The writer G. K. Chesterton responded:
Dear Sir,
I am.
Yours, G. K. Chesterton
In Romans 7 Paul does something similar. He’s anticipating the accusation that he disparages God’s holy law (vv. 7, 12) since he’s said that Christians have “died to the law” (v. 4) and no longer serve God in “the oldness of the letter” (v. 6). In effect, the apostle replies: “You want to know what the problem is? It’s not my view of the law. That’s beyond reproach. It’s me. I’m the problem. My teaching on the law is not a reflection of what the law is like. It’s a reflection of what I am like.”
Paul’s Dual Purpose
Why is Romans 7 so difficult to understand? Why is it so debated? Why does the evidence seem to push in different directions? Because of Paul’s dual purpose in this passage.
The life of fruitful obedience to God, he explains, comes as we die to our old husband, the law, which was a threatening master over us, and we marry a new husband, the Lord Jesus Christ (vv.

This kind of argument would seem to ring true, at least on a superficial level. You would expect it to be more likely for people to believe in something that they like than something that they don’t, and it is clear that Christianity is powerfully compelling. In fact, the argument itself is an admission of this, as it acknowledges the innate desire in us all that is fulfilled by God. Who wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with a loving deity who not only wants the best for those he has created, but who is offering eternity in a place that is more wonderful than can be imagined? Yet the Bible also contains some very hard-hitting passages, which would seem to contradict the notion that religious belief is simply a projection of our wishes. C. S. Lewis pointed out that scripture also teaches that believers should fear the Lord, but you would not then suggest that this meant faith was some kind of “fear fulfillment”!(2)

Puzzled Faith: I’m going to have to think some more about this. But let me see if I can repeat what I’m hearing. You are saying that assurance goes up and down with stronger and weaker faith as much as it does with stronger and weaker affections. And the reason is that spiritual affections are part of what saving faith is. And so, when the Scriptures tell us to pursue full assurance, they are calling us to fight for growing faith in God, and for growing affections for God. Because they are the same fight.

On #IndependenceDay , why not share this story of #PhillisWheatley with your family. And take a moment to remember for those who still live in bondage around the globe—and pray, with Phillis Wheatley, for the day that “Others may never feel tyrannic sway.” bit.ly/2MH7RPN pic.twitter.com/UfBTTHRVok

Senator Shaheen, a Democrat who co-authored the bill in April to prevent the transfer of the F-35's to Turkey, said, "Turkish President Erdogan's choice to take hostages and imprison innocent Americans, to try to gain leverage over the United States, is egregious and unlawful. Erdogan and his government must abide by the rule of law within his own country and abroad, and release Pastor Andrew Brunson and other Americans unlawfully held in Turkey. "

Levin discussed Jefferson’s final letter, drafted just ten days before his death, in which he described the decision the Founders made in 1776 as “the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country: Between submission or the sword” — and “the consolatory fact that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience of prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made.”

Today, I was listening to an individual speak. Much of his speech was uncontroversial. However, he made a couple of claims that are demonstrably false. One of these claims was that science can explain everything by the scientific method. I found this interesting, since the scientific method deals specifically with phenomena and theories that can be observed and tested. I was reminded immediately of the debate between William Lane Craig and Peter Atkins, in which Atkins made this very point, only to be refuted by William Lane Craig. Dr. Craig listed 5 types of truth that science cannot explain:

Our liberation in Christ brings weight and responsibility to the personal liberties we have been given. On this July 4, we need a radical reorientation of global gospel priorities considering our passport privileges. The American passport affords you access to an incredibly high number of countries, and in God’s providence, surely that’s about more than tourism and financial profit. It could be about gospel access that is virtually impossible for millions of your brothers and sisters.

Well, if the DN had gotten its way in October 2016 when it demanded that Donald Trump withdraw from the presidential race, it would be President Hillary Clinton making her second pick to the Supreme Court and probably a third one eventually over time. Let that sink in.

We all know that Golden Rule: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” In this lab, John Piper calls readers to treat authors this way. For the study guide, visit desiringgod.org/labs/the-golden-rule-of-bible-reading

U.S.—While most Americans are hostile to socialism, touching a hot stove, and sticking one’s face in a sack full of badgers, surveys show that millennials are much more open to these dangerous ideas...

What to pray for this week: According to some estimates, about 55 million lives have been snuffed out through legal abortion since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Pray that the Lord would show us what—and who—we have been missing. Download 21 Days of Prayer for Life! bit.ly/2CkG6ff pic.twitter.com/sTx2xMVQhx

Twitter placed the account of popular conservative radio host and author Michael L. Brown on lock for 12 hours on Monday after it was deemed that two of his tweets about the ongoing persecution of Christians at the hands of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria were deemed "hateful."

Several weeks ago, at the Mentionables Conference in Greensboro, NC 1 , the team and I had the pleasure of participating in a discussion panel with Ben Watkins of Real Atheology 2 . Watkins was a delight to interact with and I greatly enjoyed our time together.
During one of the panel discussions, Ben asked a question that I have found myself thinking about as well: "If God exists, why didn't He create a world in which everyone would freely choose Him?"
One certainly can understand why Ben and others would ask the question. After all, if God is all-loving, it seems to follow that He would want everyone to choose Him. Moreover, if God is all-powerful, it would seem to follow that He could create a world like the one Ben imagines. However, I believe that it is important to remember that being all-powerful does not mean God has the ability to do the logically impossible. In other words, God cannot make a squared-circle or a married bachelor. 3 Keeping that in mind, it seems reasonable to argue that it is not feasible for God to actualize a world in which everyone freely chooses Him for the same reason it is not feasible for God to create squared-circles- it is logically impossible.

I recently saw a list of considerations someone posted online as a kind of guide for whether or not to use a worship song on a Sunday. You may have seen something similar—a concise theological corrective to the some of the weaknesses that tend to show up in modern worship music. These guides have been helpful for me as a young worship leader. With the amount of worship songs we have available to us (both good and bad), careful consideration and evaluation is essential. The songs a church sings Sunday after Sunday have a formative effect on how that church views God. The selection of a “set list” for Sunday should be anything but arbitrary.
Is the song centered on Christ and the gospel? Is it focused on God or focused on the self? Does it celebrate and magnify the Triune God as revealed in Scripture? Is it vague, or specific and clear? Is it light on sin? These questions, and many others, are of upmost importance.
I would argue, however, that these questions are most aptly applied to a canon of worship songs and their use in the context of a particular worship service, and not the right questions to ask of songs individually.

But there is something about the joy of this clip—which finds McCartney singing his old hits amid his old haunts in Liverpool—that is deeper than mere diversion. It’s a joy that is intertwined with sadness, nostalgia, and the ephemeral realities of life; a joy that is satisfying because it is unsatisfying; a joy that sparks in us that ineffable sense that, however beautiful the sunset, what we truly long for lies always beyond the horizon.

Asked if the party might depart from that tradition, the North East Somerset MP said: "It's very unlikely, because Sajid has shown so successfully in his relatively brief period as Home Secretary that holding the seals of office means you can get things done, and that gives you an ability to show people what you can really do, and I think that's been so important for him."

It’s not any of the prohibitions or warnings. It’s not about sex, or money, or power. The most repeated command in the Bible will probably surprise you: Be happy. God tells us more than anything else, in different ways, to “praise the Lord,” “do not be afraid,” “rejoice,” and “give thanks” — all of which are commands, in essence, to be happy.

A friend once confided that she admired how I grieved. Apparently, my grief was more God-honoring than the sorrow of those who seemed defined by their pain. At first, I was flattered by the favorable comparison, but later her words troubled me. I didn’t want to be compared to others in my grief. There isn’t one “right” way to grieve. I wanted the freedom to be honest about future pain without feeling judged.